Device for selecting a thread in a textile machine and textile machine fitted with said device

ABSTRACT

The apparatus comprises at least one movable member ( 1 ) for the reception of the thread, a coupling arrangement ( 2 ) and a winding ( 3 ) which produces a magnetic field and is intended to produce different polarities in the coupling arrangement through which the magnetic flux passes and to bring the coupling arrangement into engagement with the member. The member ( 1 ) consists of magnetic or non-magnetic material and the coupling arrangement ( 2 ) of ferromagnetic material. 
     The apparatus ensures a reliable coupling at high rhythm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for selecting a thread ina textile machine and including a reciprocating member for picking up athread, a holding element, a guide member, and means for producing amagnetic field acting on the holding element for displacing it inengagement with picking-up member.

2. Description of the Art

In the manufacture of textile structures, different threads are selectedand/or moved for the patterning. In modern textile machines with highspeeds of rotation the know apparatuses prove to be too complicatedand/or too sluggish.

The invention is based on the object of improving an apparatus for theselection of a thread in a textile machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other objects of the present invention, which will becomeapparent hereinafter, are achieved by forming the guide member as arigid element that limits the deflection of the holding element towardthe picking-up member and prevents the free end of the holding memberfrom engaging the picking-up member, and by generating a magnetic fieldsuch that it produces different polarities in the holding and rigidelements.

The advantages of the invention are to be seen essentially in the simpleconstruction and the ensuring of a reliable coupling of the member andof the coupling arrangement and in the possibility of convertingexisting apparatuses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent and the invention itself will be best understood from thefollowing detailed description of the present invention when read withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 a first embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 a second embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 3 a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 a further embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 5 a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 3 and

FIG. 6 a modified embodiment of a coupling arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows the basic principle of the invention under discussion here.The apparatus comprises essentially a bar 1, a coupling arrangement 2and a winding 3, with it being assumed here that the bar 1 is movable toand fro and the coupling arrangement is arranged in a fixed position.The bar 1 consists of non-magnetic material, for example brass, and ismovable to and fro along a path of movement. It is pointed out that thebar 1 can consist of magnetic material. The coupling arrangement 2contains a bendable holding element 4 and a rigid element 5 whichconsists of a material with ferromagnetic characteristics. The bendableelement 4 is a strip which is secured at one end to a holder 6 and has ahook 7 in the region of the other end. The rigid element 5 is S-shapedand so secured to the holder 6 that a section 8 projects beyond the freeend of the strip 4. The winding 3 is so formed that it surrounds the bar1 and the coupling arrangement 2.

In a non-illustrated modification of the coupling arrangement inaccordance with FIG. 1 the bendable holding element 4 is arranged to bemovable to and fro.

When the winding 3 is not excited the bar 1 is moved within winding 3past the arrangement and can be guided in advantageous manner by thesection 8 of the rigid element 5. When the winding 3 is excited amagnetic field is produced, whereby different polarities are produced inthe bendable and rigid elements 4, 5 through which the magnetic fluxpasses, so that the bendable holding element 4 is drawn against therigid element 5 by the magnetic force. The hook 7 is thereby displacedinto the path of movement of the bar 1 so that it comes into engagementwith the displaced holding element 4. As a result of the rigid elementthe advantages result that the deflection of the bar 1 as well as of thebendable element 4 is restricted and the hook 7 always adopts the sameposition relative to the bar 1, and that an overshooting of the bendableelement is prevented.

As FIG. 2 shows the apparatus includes a bar 1 and a carrier member 14with the coupling arrangement 2 which are movable to and fro alongparallel paths of movement as well as the winding 3 which is so arrangedin a fixed position that is surround the paths of movement of the bar 1and of the carrier member 14 with the coupling arrangement 2. The bar 1consists of a non-magnetic material. The carrier member 14 consists ofnon-magnetic material. The coupling arrangement 2 is installed on thecarrier member and contains the bendable holding element 4 and the rigidelement 5. The bendable holding element 4 is secured at one end to thecarrier member 14. The rigid element 5 is so secured to the carriermember 14 that the section 8 extends parallel to the carrier member andprojects beyond the free end of the bendable holding element 4.

In this apparatus the bar 1 are moved to and fro in opposite directionsalong parallel paths of movement. The coupling of the bar 1 and thecarrier member 14 with the coupling arrangement 2 takes place within thewinding 3. The process of the coupling takes place essentially in thesame way as in the apparatus of FIG. 2. If the winding 3 is excited,then the bendable holding element 4 is drawn against the rigid element 5and is displaced into the path of movement of the bar 1 and comes intoengagement with the bar 1.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment which is distinguished from that of FIG. 1 inthat an electromagnet 21 is provided in place of the winding 3. Theelectromagnet 21 consist of a U-shaped core 22 with two limbs 23, 24 anda winding 25. The electromagnet 21 is so arranged that the end faces ofthe limbs are parallel to the path of movement of the bar 1. Thecoupling arrangement 2 is so connected to the core 22 of theelectromagnet 21 that the bendable holding element 4 and the rigidelement 5 are respectively connected to a different 23, 24.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 24 is distinguished from that of FIG. 2 inthat an electromagnet 21 is provided in place of the winding 3. In thiscase the electromagnet 21 is so arranged that the end faces of the limbs23, 24 are arranged spaced apart from and parallel to the path ofmovement of the bar 1 and of the coupling arrangement 2.

It is advantage, when the core 21 of the electromagnet consists of asoft magnetic material with a saturation magnetization greater than 1,5tesla.

The manner of operation of this embodiment is the same than that of FIG.1 and will thus not be described.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 comprises a bar 1, two carrier members 14with the coupling arrangement 2 and an electromagnet 31. The bar 1 ismovable to and fro along a first path of movement and the carriermembers 14 with the coupling arrangement 2 are movable to and fro inopposite senses along two paths of movement which are parallel to thefirst path of movement. The electromagnet 31 contains a core 32 and awinding 33. The core of the electromagnet has two limbs 34, 35 each witha cut-out 36 which at least partly surround the coupling arrangements.

FIG. 6 shows a modified embodiment of the coupling arrangement 42 whichcontains a bendable holding element 44 with a hook 47 and an angledsection as well as a rigid element 45 with an angled section 48. Thiscoupling arrangement 42 can likewise be used in the above describedembodiments, with the function being identical.

The apparatus comprises at least on movable member 1 for the receptionof the thread, a coupling arrangement 2 and a winding 3 which produces amagnetic field and is intended to produce different polarities in thecoupling arrangement through which the magnetic flux passes and to bringthe coupling arrangement into engagement with the member. The member 1consists of non-magnetic material and the coupling arrangement 2consists of ferromagnetic material. The apparatus ensures a reliablecoupling at high rhythm.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for selecting a thread in a textilemachine, comprising a least one reciprocating member for picking up thethread and formed of one of magnetic material and non-magnetic material;coupling means including a bendable holding element displaceable in andout of engagement with the picking-up member, and a rigid element formedof a ferro-magnetic material; and means for producing a magnetic fieldwhich provides for bending of the holding element toward the picking-upmember, wherein the picking-up member and the holding element havecomplementary, engageable each other sections, wherein the rigid elementhas a section located between the holding element and the picking-upmember and extending in a direction opposite a direction in which a freeend of the holding element extends, the section of the rigid elementprojecting beyond the free end of the holding element for limitingdeflection of the holding element in a direction toward the picking-upmember and for keeping the free end of the holding element at a distancefrom the picking-up member, and wherein the holding element and therigid element have different polarities when subjected to action of themagnetic field.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thesection of the rigid elements serves for guiding the picking-up member.3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding and rigidelements are fixedly secured.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the holding and rigid elements are supported for a reciprocatingmovement.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising areciprocating carrier member formed of non-magnetic material, wherein anend of the holding element opposite the free end thereof is fixedlysecured to the carrier member, wherein the carrier member has an endsection projection beyond the free end of the holding element, andwherein the rigid element is secured to the projecting end section ofthe carrier member, and the section of the rigid element extendsparallel to the carrier member.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the magnetic field producing means comprises at least onewinding surrounding the picking-up member and the holding and rigidelements.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magneticfield producing means comprises an electromagnet having a core with twolimbs, and wherein the holding element is connected with one limb andthe rigid element is connected with another limb.
 8. An apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein the core is formed of a soft magneticmaterial with a saturation magnetization greater than 1.5 tesla.
 9. Anapparatus according to claim 1, comprising further coupling meansmirrow-inverted with respect to the coupling means, wherein bothcoupling means arranged parallel to path of movement of the picking-upmeans, and wherein holding elements of the two coupling means aremirrow-inverted with respect to each other.